By Christian Hunt – Each semester, students enrolled in Principles of Marketing, led by Professor Shelly McVay, separate into teams to compete in developing the best branding, advertising, social media, and funding options for a specific organization. This semester six teams are competing for the benefit of “A Turning Point”, a local non-profit organization aimed to help people get on the right track.

After creating their plan, each team will then present it to the organization’s managing directors. This type of project allows students to learn how to handle a hands-on, real world situation. It allows them to look at what a business needs and wants while learning how to present those ideas effectively.

Previous partnerships with non-profit organizations include Westside Housing Organization, Village Partners, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, The Harriman-Jewell Series, Inclusion Connections, PAWS Abilities, and Samuel Rodgers Health Center. These projects are favorites among students as they fulfill the Reflective Citizenship piece of the ACT-IN second major.